Challenge of festival: Create a short film in only 24 hours

January 19, 2007|JEREMY D. BONFIGLIO Tribune Staff Writer

Joseph Mayfield tries not to think about his next film. The 28-year-old from Union has already suffered through a few nights where art won out over sleep. "It's kind of hard not to run over certain ideas before you get there," Mayfield says. There is New World Arts' 24/5 Film Festival in Goshen. In its second year, five filmmaking teams will work collaboratively to write, film and edit a short within 24 hours. Nearly 30 editors, directors, cinematographers and actors begin the process at 7 p.m. today and must wrap by 7 p.m. Saturday. The completed films, which must be less than 10 minutes, are shown at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at New World Arts that same night. "The biggest challenge is limiting themselves to something realistic," festival director Eric Kanagy says. "(Independent) filmmakers are used to shooting films without a budget, but the one thing they did have was time." With only 24 hours to work, the deadline pressure, organizers say, ultimately aids both the filmmakers and the film. "When some people set out to do a short film, they don't focus on one idea," Kanagy says. "That's what this process does. Instead of having a hodgepodge of ideas, (the film) ends up clear, focused and short." That was certainly the case in the festival's inaugural year. The five films -- "Chronophobia," "Reverse," "Remember and Forget," "Gabriel" and "Constance" -- not only exceeded filmmakers' expectations but festival organizers' as well. "I was really impressed with the quality of the films last year," Kanagy says. "It's amazing how the stress and pressure of a short time deadline produces quality films." Mayfield, who was the assistant director on "Chronophobia," is taking a turn as director this year. "Part of the challenge is to keep it flexible," Mayfield says. "The hardest part as a filmmaker is letting go. Sometimes you have to run with it without tweaking it. You may want to get one more shot, but you can't because you need time to edit." Teams are provided with a digital video camera, a computer station for editing, props and a line or two of dialogue tied to the festival theme. Last year's theme was "Time"; this year it's "The Unexpected." The rest is up to the creativity of each production crew. "A lot of egos get thrown out because the process doesn't allow it," organizer Dave Kendall says. "Everybody is doing something. It's all about doing the most with what you have." Because of time constraints, most of the filming takes place in and around Goshen early Saturday morning. In the afternoon, film crews return to New World Arts, and the editing stations set up throughout the building. "One of the neatest things to watch is the interaction of people with all different skill levels," Kanagy says. "People who haven't even met before let their creativity flow and they run with it." The one difference this year is that organizers opened the event to pre-selected teams as well as individuals. Two of the five groups in this year's festival took advantage of the change. Regardless of a team's familiarity, however, the challenge to complete a film in 24 hours remains the same. "The nice thing about this event is it's really a showcase in the end," Kendall says. "It's just a chance for filmmakers to get together and play." Staff writer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio: jbonfiglio@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6244